Renzi's pick for Italian president in election could cost him support for his reform agenda

An unidentified lawmaker casts his vote at the lower chamber during a voting session for the election of the new Italian President in Rome, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Lawmakers failed to elect a new Italian president Thursday in balloting that tests Premier Matteo Renzi's ability to rally his fractured party behind a candidate that is also acceptable to opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, whose support he has courted for the government's ambitious reform agenda. Even as the names on the hand-written ballots from the 1,009 electors were still being read aloud, it was clear that, as expected, no candidate had come remotely close to the two-thirds majority needed to elect a new head of state in the first three rounds. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
(The Associated Press)

Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano casts his vote at the lower chamber during a voting session for the election of the new Italian President in Rome, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Lawmakers failed to elect a new Italian president Thursday in balloting that tests Premier Matteo Renzi's ability to rally his fractured party behind a candidate that is also acceptable to opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi, whose support he has courted for the government's ambitious reform agenda. Even as the names on the hand-written ballots from the 1,009 electors were still being read aloud, it was clear that, as expected, no candidate had come remotely close to the two-thirds majority needed to elect a new head of state in the first three rounds. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
(The Associated Press)

ROME – Italian Premier Matteo Renzi's candidate in this week's presidential election could cost him backing for his reform agenda.

Lawmakers were voting in Parliament Friday, a day after a first round fell far short of producing the two-thirds majority needed to elect a new head of state. Chances of victory improve on Saturday, when only a simple majority is needed.

Renzi has urged his Democrats and coalition allies to vote for Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court justice.